You studied both your undergraduate and PhD at Edinburgh Napier University. Any lasting memories?
“I loved being a student and living away from home and getting the "full experience" of university. I didn't do particularly well at school, however I found that when a taught subject was applied to something, in this case engineering, it just clicked.
“There were so many "firsts" while at university, first time I ever used the internet or first time I used a computer, for example. There are so many fond memories I have from my time at Edinburgh Napier!”
Volunteering is a big passion of yours. Why do you like to volunteer?
“Volunteering is one thing that I think everyone should try at least once in their lifetime. It's so rewarding and empowering. I saw it initially as giving back to charities that helped me when I needed it, but it is so much more than that. You gain new skills, meet new people and get such a sense of accomplishment.
“For me, the troubles I have gone through meant I could really connect and understand the people I help."
Ian offers his advice to the Class of 2025
“Don’t be frightened to change direction. I have an engineering degree, but I don’t do anything with engineering. However, the skills I learnt – how to communicate, how to create reports for example – are all transferable.”
What is ANDYSMANCLUB?
“ANDYSMANCLUB takes its name from Andrew Roberts, a man who sadly took his own life aged 23 in early 2016. Andy’s family had no inkling that he was suffering or struggling to the extent that he would do this, and as a result looked deeper into male suicide and men’s mental health. They soon discovered that male suicide is the biggest killer of men under 54, with male mental health surrounded by a well-ingrained cultural stigma in the UK.
“Elaine Roberts and Luke Ambler are Andy’s Mum and Brother-in-Law, together they came up with the idea of ANDYSMANCLUB, a group where men aged 18 and above can speak openly about their mental health in a judgment-free, non-clinical environment.
“Groups now operate throughout the UK and are completely volunteer-led, with all group facilitators having first interacted with ANDYSMANCLUB when they came through the door as a service user.
How did you first get involved with the organisation?
"I’m very transparent about my story. I hope that if I’m vulnerable it might inspire others to be as well. I first came to ANDYSMANCLUB because I needed help.
"I had a normal childhood; as already mentioned, I got my degree and my PhD from Edinburgh Napier. But I married the wrong person which culminated in me being on the receiving end of coercive control and domestic violence.
"To cope, I turned to alcohol and drugs. This lasted several years, and I had suicidal thoughts during that time. It all came to a head in 2021 when my now ex-wife tried to stab me and attack our daughter and we both fled. I was living in a one-bedroom homeless hostel with my teenage daughter and surviving off foodbanks. I was obviously feeling very low and thought my daughter would be better off without me. And again, I contemplated suicide.
"I had heard there was a group in Edinburgh for men to talk. I had no idea what it was called but I thought I’d go and have a look from the outside on the way to the pub to drown my sorrows.
"At ANDYSMANCLUB we hear time and time again that the biggest obstacle to someone attending their first meeting is that they don’t know what’s behind the door. So, we have people called ‘sweepers’. They stand outside the venues and look for guys struggling to come in. They can be easy to spot; they might walk past two to three times, or they sit in their car staring at the entrance. The sweeper then goes up and asks them if they are looking for Andy’s Man Club.
"That’s what happened to me. I walked past and I was asked if I was looking for the club. I couldn’t think of any other reason as to why I would be there! So, I said yes and attended my first meeting.
"I showed up week after week and began to open up about my problems and I realised that I was not alone. Understanding that other men have problems really helped me. I attended my first meeting over 4 years ago and I’m in a much better place now. I’m now clean and sober and have permanent housing with my daughter and we both work full time."
What is your role at the organisation?
“After a year or so of attending meetings, I began to volunteer at ANDYSMANCLUB to help run them. I had a job working at the court helping vulnerable witnesses, but then a full-time job came up at ANDYSMANCLUB and it seemed like a natural progression to give back to the charity which helped me so much.
“I am the Area Lead for Edinburgh, Lothian & Borders, and I’m responsible for looking after the existing clubs and volunteers, making sure everything runs as it should. Along with this I promote the charity by spreading awareness by doing talks, presentations and awareness events. Finally, I find new venues and teams of volunteers to open more clubs as we continue to expand.”
Edinburgh Napier’s Merchiston campus hosts an ANDYSMANCLUB group. Tell us more about this.
“ANDYSMANCLUB has free support groups nationwide, running every Monday from 7PM except bank holidays. In these groups, men can open up about the storms affecting their lives in a safe, judgement-free and non-clinical environment. Our clubs are designed to be free of pressure. There is no obligation for men to speak, they can simply listen if they wish.
“With thousands of men using our sessions every week, and an army of volunteers on board, the movement is continuing to grow week-by-week. We firmly believe in the power of talking and that #ItsOkayToTalk.
“The aim of the club is to provide men with a safe space where they feel comfortable to talk and open up about their experiences in a room free of judgment.”
“ANDYSMANCLUB are always looking to help more men and find new venues across the country for our Monday night meetings. ENU’s Merchiston campus was a perfect fit as it’s well-known and ticked all the boxes, such as disabled access, no religious connections and no open bars, to name just a few of the things we look for.
“The group is open to the wider public and is just one of many groups we have in the area."
How does it feel to receive the Impact Award?
“I’m humbled winning this award, but it’s also validating. I sometimes suffer from imposter syndrome, but this shows that I am doing the right thing.
“However, from an ANDYSMANCLUB point of view, we’re rewarded every time a new guy shows up to a club. When someone turns up and it means they might not take their own life and it might not affect the 135 people that would be affected by the suicide, that’s the best accolade.”
Or download a copy of the Andy's Man Club leaflet here.